Kanakadurga and Bindu, Who Entered Sabarimala, Receive Threats

The letter states that the sentencing of the two women, Bindu and Kanakadurga, will take place after the elections.

Kanakadurga and Bindu, the two women below the age of 50 who entered the Sabarimala temple, continue to receive life threats, more than a month after they entered the temple on 2 January. The Perinthalmanna police on Sunday had begun a probe after the administrator of a shelter home, where Kanakadurga is currently residing, received an anonymous threat letter.

According to a Times of India report, the letter, which was received on Friday, states that the sentencing of the two women – Bindu and Kanakadurga, who entered the Sabarimala temple – will take place after the elections. As per a report by The New Indian Express, Perinthalmanna CI TS Binu said, the police had received clues about the people behind the letter.

Bindu and Kanakadurga, both in their forties, entered the Sabarimala temple during the wee hours of 2 January, following which violent protests had erupted across the state of Kerala.

Following her entry, Kanakadurga was isolated from her family, especially her husband and mother-in-law. Taking this into consideration, as well as the threats she used to receive, she was forced to take shelter at Perinthalmanna after her house was locked and her family members shifted to another building.

A civil supplies employee, Kanakadurga was also attacked by her mother-in-law upon her return after offering prayers at the Sabarimala temple. Her mother-in-law refused to let her inside the house. Nevertheless, she walked inside, which led to a verbal scuffle between the two. The mother-in-law then allegedly beat her with a wooden plank on her head. The police, who were in the vicinity to ensure Kanakadurga's safety, immediately rushed her to the hospital.

On 18 January, the Supreme Court of India had ruled that Bindu and Kanakadurga should receive 24x7 police protection. The court also ruled that the state government should be responsible for providing security to the two women.

(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)